Anxiety and Fear Over Colonoscopy and Endoscopy

http://newstartclub.com/question/764

Q. I am SO fearful of an upcoming sedation for a colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy to rule out other issues besides IBS. Any advice?

A.

I think at this point you should try to reduce your anxiety by looking at this philosophically. First, your physician, I assume, has reason to warrant further work up of your gastrointestinal symptoms with colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out more serious diseases. It might be comforting to know that you do not have a malignancy, or inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease. Assuming it is irritable bowel syndrome, then you could work on reducing something that might be contributing to the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is your anxiety. You probably should inform your primary physician or gastroenterologist about your anxiety over the procedures. In the meantime be sure to eliminate all dairy products and perhaps wheat products to help resolve any inflammation that these products might be contributing to your gastrointestinal symptoms. I once put a person with undiagnosed abdominal pain on mint tea during the daytime and catnip tea for sleep at night, and his abdominal symptoms disappeared.

Dr. Galen Comstock, a native of Loma Linda, California, graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1974. He completed a Family Practice residency at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in 1978 and became Board Certified in Family Practice. Afterward, he practiced near Lake Elsinore, CA for 11 years. Since then, Dr. Comstock has done extensive health lecturing, research, and written articles for numerous publications.